Young Apprentice is no more!

Lord Sugar has now confirmed on Twitter that Young Apprentice will not return for a fourth series. Rumours about this began circulating last summer, but it was never confirmed by an official source - until now.

I was rather expecting this because that did seem to be the way the wind was blowing, but it doesn't stop me being disappointed. Series 3 was a bit of a fail, but the format was great and Series 1 and 2 did really well. I think it's a shame that a programme that is great for young people, one of which I am, is deemed to be not so important.

Hopefully at some point the BBC will reconsider - it happens occasionally! Or maybe Lord Sugar will move to another channel as he has threatened to do - which he apparently can do as he is not on an exclusive contract.

I think the BBC were trying to get rid of it before Series 3 aired though. They changed the time from 9pm to 8pm, and it was advertised considerably less than the previous series. The BBC seem to do that with shows that they just don't care about anymore. Shame.

Hopefully at some point the BBC will reconsider - it happens occasionally! Or maybe Lord Sugar will move to another channel as he has threatened to do - which he apparently can do as he is not on an exclusive contract.

The UK rights for the Apprentice belong to the BBC and not Sugar, so he couldn't do that.

I sincerely doubt that he'd make that threat if he wasn't able to do it. He's a hugely successful individual, he didn't get where he is making empty threats. He strikes me as being very honest and straight-talking, and all of the past candidates have said as much. If he says he is able to take it to another channel, then he is. Whether or not he will remains to be seen.

Unless of course, he has been hideously misquoted in the article, which is a possibility.

I sincerely doubt that he'd make that threat if he wasn't able to do it. He's a hugely successful individual, he didn't get where he is making empty threats. He strikes me as being very honest and straight-talking, and all of the past candidates have said as much. If he says he is able to take it to another channel, then he is. Whether or not he will remains to be seen.

Unless of course, he has been hideously misquoted in the article, which is a possibility.

He could take the principle of Young Apprentice and tweak it elsewhere I guess if other channels were interested, but The Apprentice rights belongs to the BBC not Lord Sugar.

He could take the principle of Young Apprentice and tweak it elsewhere I guess if other channels were interested, but The Apprentice rights belongs to the BBC not Lord Sugar.

Surprisingly, Lord Sugar appears to have a huge amount of the decision-making power himself. It was apparently him that decided to change the name of Junior Apprentice to Young Apprentice because apparently 'they're not junior to anyone'. It was also apparently him who demanded that the format change from Series 3 onwards so that he could fire more than one person (after the fiasco with the chickens in Series 2 when he wanted to fire Alexa and Syed, but could only fire one of them), and he who changed it from a job to a business opportunity.

I'm not sure how he manages all this, but I think it's possible that he has Mark Burnett on his side, who owns the entire Apprentice franchise. Maybe Mark Burnett can overrule the BBC and take it to another channel? I don't know exactly how it works, but from what he says, Sugar is apparently able to take his contract wherever he likes.

Surprisingly, Lord Sugar appears to have a huge amount of the decision-making power himself. It was apparently him that decided to change the name of Junior Apprentice to Young Apprentice because apparently 'they're not junior to anyone'. It was also apparently him who demanded that the format change from Series 3 onwards so that he could fire more than one person (after the fiasco with the chickens in Series 2 when he wanted to fire Alexa and Syed, but could only fire one of them), and he who changed it from a job to a business opportunity.

I'm not sure how he manages all this, but I think it's possible that he has Mark Burnett on his side, who owns the entire Apprentice franchise. Maybe Mark Burnett can overrule the BBC and take it to another channel? I don't know exactly how it works, but from what he says, Sugar is apparently able to take his contract wherever he likes.

Of course, once the BBC's contract with Mark Burnett productions is through, then the format may be able to move channels. But considering the financial commitment the BBC made to the show it would be hard and possibly illegal, for a contract just to be broken because one person threw their toys out of the pram.

Of course, once the BBC's contract with Mark Burnett productions is through, then the format may be able to move channels. But considering the financial commitment the BBC made to the show it would be hard and possibly illegal, for a contract just to be broken because one person threw their toys out of the pram.

Is The Apprentice on the same contract as Young Apprentice though? One would have thought so, but considering the BBC have made it clear that they aren't making any more series of the latter, but have confirmed at least two more series of the former, it could be theoretically possible for Sugar to move Young Apprentice to another channel, while continuing to do the adult show for the BBC.

Surprisingly, Lord Sugar appears to have a huge amount of the decision-making power himself. It was apparently him that decided to change the name of Junior Apprentice to Young Apprentice because apparently 'they're not junior to anyone'. It was also apparently him who demanded that the format change from Series 3 onwards so that he could fire more than one person (after the fiasco with the chickens in Series 2 when he wanted to fire Alexa and Syed, but could only fire one of them), and he who changed it from a job to a business opportunity.

I'm not sure how he manages all this, but I think it's possible that he has Mark Burnett on his side, who owns the entire Apprentice franchise. Maybe Mark Burnett can overrule the BBC and take it to another channel? I don't know exactly how it works, but from what he says, Sugar is apparently able to take his contract wherever he likes.

Sugar is an integral and pivotal part of the show, of course the BBC will listen to him and take his opinions into consideration regarding how the show should be. That's not the same thing as being in control and having the rights to the show, which belong exclusively to the BBC in the UK. Junior Apprentice is the same, as they're using The Apprentice brand and the concept is almost completely the same, just with younger candidates.

It was the BBC who chose Sugar in the first place, they initially wanted Phillip Green but he rejected it.

If Sugar decided to move to another channel and do a similar show there, I guess the BBC could sue him back into the stoneage for infringing their rights to the show. Unless he would change the format to such a degree that they couldn't make such claims, but then it would be a completely different show.

Sugar is an integral and pivotal part of the show, of course the BBC will listen to him and take his opinions into consideration regarding how the show should be. That's not the same thing as being in control and having the rights to the show, which belong exclusively to the BBC in the UK. Junior Apprentice is the same, as they're using The Apprentice brand and the concept is almost completely the same, just with younger candidates.

It was the BBC who chose Sugar in the first place, they initially wanted Phillip Green but he rejected it.

If Sugar decided to move to another channel and do a similar show there, I guess the BBC could sue him back into the stoneage for infringing their rights to the show. Unless he would change the format to such a degree that they couldn't make such claims, but then it would be a completely different show.

Well, why does he talk about taking it to another channel then? I don't see Sugar as a man who makes empty threats.

That's a big shame, I loved YA and at times thought it was even better than the normal apprentice

Well said! I also enjoyed it more than the adult edition, mainly because I found there were more really capable and likeable individuals in Young Apprentice.

In Series 1, I liked pretty much everyone bar Rhys and Adam. In Series 2, they had some amazing people. I think Zara was the right person to win, but I would have been happy with James, Haya, Harry H, Lizzie or even Hayley. Series 3 was a bit more of a fail mainly because I thought some really good people fell at the early stages - namely Sean, Alice and Navdeep - but it was still enjoyable, and I was happy with Ashleigh as the winner.

So out of three series, we had two that were fantastic, and one that wasn't quite so good, but anyone can see this format could work for quite a long time, especially as in the current political climate it is more important than ever to encourage young people to really make something of their lives. Lord Sugar is really passionate about that, and I admire him for it - I'm young, and while I've had quite a lot of opportunities myself, I know a lot of people who haven't been so lucky. Yet again the BBC are showing that they can't see beyond viewing figures to something that really has potential. I suppose the way we are economically at the moment they don't really have much choice, but it's still such a shame. After all, the adult edition of The Apprentice didn't get a huge number of viewing figures for its first few years, but ultimately it became something that everyone knows about and the majority of people enjoy from time to time, even if they don't follow it properly.

Well said! I also enjoyed it more than the adult edition, mainly because I found there were more really capable and likeable individuals in Young Apprentice.

In Series 1, I liked pretty much everyone bar Rhys and Adam. In Series 2, they had some amazing people. I think Zara was the right person to win, but I would have been happy with James, Haya, Harry H, Lizzie or even Hayley. Series 3 was a bit more of a fail mainly because I thought some really good people fell at the early stages - namely Sean, Alice and Navdeep - but it was still enjoyable, and I was happy with Ashleigh as the winner.

So out of three series, we had two that were fantastic, and one that wasn't quite so good, but anyone can see this format could work for quite a long time, especially as in the current political climate it is more important than ever to encourage young people to really make something of their lives. Lord Sugar is really passionate about that, and I admire him for it - I'm young, and while I've had quite a lot of opportunities myself, I know a lot of people who haven't been so lucky. Yet again the BBC are showing that they can't see beyond viewing figures to something that really has potential. I suppose the way we are economically at the moment they don't really have much choice, but it's still such a shame. After all, the adult edition of The Apprentice didn't get a huge number of viewing figures for its first few years, but ultimately it became something that everyone knows about and the majority of people enjoy from time to time, even if they don't follow it properly.

I agree, Series 2 in particular had some amazing candidates, and much better when you compare it to the Adult series that followed it...

According to this, Young Apprentice has been nominated for a BAFTA for a second time, and Sugar says if it wins, he is going to sit down with BBC bosses and make them explain why they axed it.

I wonder if there ever will be another Young Apprentice? I know there aren't any plans for that at the moment, but you never know what might happen. It's not like with a drama where new series have to be confirmed quickly before the actors get other commitments. There won't be one this year, and probably not next year, but I think it will all depend on how Series 9 and 10 of the main show do. 2012 was a bad year for The Apprentice, the ratings went down on both the main show and Young Apprentice. Sugar has made it clear he wants to do more Young Apprentice; maybe if the next few series of the main show go well and pull in lots of ratings, he'll be able to convince the BBC. Or maybe once the contract expires, he and Mark Burnett will go and take it elsewhere, as happened with Big Brother. Anything is possible really...

I think that regardless of Young Apprentice though, Series 9 and 10 will determine the long-term future of the show. They could mark the end of a series that has had a great run, or they could be the opening of a new golden age. We'll have to see.

I HATE YA, I'm afraid. It's all so clichéd, LS is soft as sh**, which doesn't work, and I just can't take them seriously. The Adult version, IMO is at least 10 timesbetter.

Really? I disagree with you, I actually thought Young Apprentice was streaks ahead of the main series. I didn't feel that he was overly soft; I think the hard and belligerent front that he has in the main show is an act, and the way he is on Young Apprentice is probably closer to his general personality. He's not horrible to them, but he's still straight-talking and the tasks are just as hard as on the main show. What I like from The Apprentice are interesting candidates (not just stupid people), good tasks and people who I can relate to and genuinely care about winning, and I'm not so bothered by the approach of Sugar himself.